Have you seen X-Men: First Class? Post here!

[Crockett]

My auditorium was packed as well, surprisedly in a good way of course. I'm quite eager to see the movie again but I don't want to rush it, but probably next week.

I really want a sequel to this, like now.

[Troy_Parker]

Saw it today, loved it!

Wolverine's cameo was a little unexpected but it was great. :D

[X-Maniac]

use spoiler tags for cryin' out loud!

[danoyse]

Remember to use spoiler tags, everyone.

[danoyse]

use spoiler tags for cryin' out loud!

Thank you. :up:

[The Batman]

honestly.....i can see first class tying in with all the films. its very, very simple:

Dosent Xavier have a history of regaining the use of his legs in the comics? And Magneto occasionally becomes good. The beginning of X3 and the end of Wolverine could easily take place at a time where those two things have happened

[X-Maniac]

honestly.....i can see first class tying in with all the films. its very, very simple:

Dosent Xavier have a history of regaining the use of his legs in the comics? And Magneto occasionally becomes good. The beginning of X3 and the end of Wolverine could easily take place at a time where those two things have happened

Well...

Magneto once used nanobots to temporarily give Charles the power to walk. But you can also imagine that they might work together again, as alluded to in interviews. To simply have a clear and permanent divide is a bit mundane... Maybe they are forced to work together to find Jean Grey and build a better Cerebro, because something terrible is coming, like Sentinels or Apocalypse.

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Going back to my "I don't think there will be any *major* continuity issues" - a lot of people complained about severe continuity issues with X-Men: The Last Stand or X-Men Origins: Wolverine as well. But honestly, I just don't see it.

Sure, they aren't 100% true to the movies that came before them, but issues are going to arise when you have 4 movies (now 5) made by 3 different directors (now 4) and tons of producers, screenwriters, etc...

I'll be able to say more later tonight when I get back from the movie, but I have a feeling is going to be more a case of "just because a movie wasn't addressed in this one doesn't mean it's continuity is being ignored"

From what little I know, and have seen about this movie, I feel like it's going to fit into the continuity rather well for the bulk of it. There will be some issues, just like there were even minor issues between even X-Men and X2, let alone the rest of the movies. But nothing that makes it some kind of "reboot" or anything.

[Troy_Parker]

Why do we have to use spoiler tags in a spoiler forum in a thread that's for people that have already seen the movie?

[danoyse]

Why do we have to use spoiler tags in a spoiler forum in a thread that's for people that have already seen the movie?

Because the movie has yet to officially open everywhere and a lot of people here (myself included) who are visiting this thread to find out how the movie was haven't seen it yet.

Is it that hard to use spoiler tags? By the weekend we won't worry about them as much, but show a little common courtesy for the next 24 hours or so.

[Troy_Parker]

Huh, sorry. Just assumed it was out everywhere.

Anyways, planning on seeing it opening day? lol

[Darkness Falls]

saw it last night and loved it :D 10/10
the cast was great and really worked well together
can't wait for a sequel

[Alex Logan]

So basically, it's a complete reboot...

Right on! We like that! :sym:

[JP]

Just saw it! AMAZING! might go and see it again at midnight! Thoughts when I get home!

[SuperSoldier985]

Edit: Thanks

[SuperT]

There is no post credit scene.

[craigdbfan]

Just saw it! AMAZING! might go and see it again at midnight! Thoughts when I get home!

:highfive:

Yay!

Can't wait to read what you thought about it. :up:

[RKO]

These movie ROCKS!! there's so many bad-as* moments I can recall, specially involving Magneto. Fassbender is excellent

I haven't been following these movie's making progress so you'll have to forgive me, but the guy who plays Xavier pretty much sells this movie, he's the heart of it.


Edit: James McAvoy, this man just exudes charm.

[Sweet Xstacy]

These movie ROCKS!! there's so many bad-as* moments I can recall, specially involving Magneto. Fassbender is excellent

I haven't been following these movie's making progress so you'll have to forgive me, but the guy who plays Xavier pretty much sells this movie, he's the heart of it.

OMG! Finally some love for James McAvoy. Loganbabe is gonna love this.:yay:

[craigdbfan]

James McAvoy isn't getting enough credit.

Dude is amazing in this.

[Figs]

Just curious, but to those who have seen this, what trailers did you get before the movie?

[RKO]

Just curious, but to those who have seen this, what trailers did you get before the movie?

Off the top of my head I remember Warrior, Planet of the Apes, The Girl with the Dragon tattoo.

Oh and that one movie where the dudes are trying to kill they're bosses? Wich I did not pay attention to the title obviously.

[craigdbfan]

I saw a pre screening so no trailers. :(

[Crockett]

I don't live in the US but I got Captain America and Transformers 3.

[Spikey]

I loved it!

McAvoy is the best! Really, he steals the movie

[RKO]

I'm gonna go ahead and say in my humble opinion, this is the best X-Men movie and my favorite Marvel movie by FAR.

[J.Howlett]

A million thoughts racing through my mind but it's easily the second best X-Men film. It kind of suffers from two major flaws.

But, in turn, it made certain aspects of the first two films even sadder in hindsight.

You could definitely look at it as a complete reboot or as a very solid prequel to Singer's two films, despite some loose playing with continuity. It's passable. It's not in the same vein as the continuity issues there were in Origins Wolverine.

But, on the whole, a damn fine James Bond/60's spy film that just so happen to take place in the X-Men universe.

The performances were aces all the way around with the standouts obviously being McAvoy and Fassbender. But, the performance that will haunt me and has changed my perception of certain aspects of the Singer's first two films was Lawrence's Mystique. Her final scene with Charles brought tears to my eyes because it's a scene that's an important character growth moment for the three most important people in all of this; Charles, Erik, and Raven.

And I absolutely love the twist of Shaw and his plan and how it shapes Erik later in the series. It's one of the genius moments in the film.

Still, I prefer X2 to this, ever so slightly. More thoughts later.

[A Necessary Evil]

HOLY CRAP thank you vaughn sososososo much for giving x-men the kick in the ass it needed.

I loved it. My favorite X-Film by far.

Hell even the cameo had me dying.

[Rocker22]

Great stuff.

[Sweet Xstacy]

Can you guys post your crowd reports i.e. how many people were in the audience? I'd like to see if we can get a read on this opening weekend at the box office.

[The Batman]

just saw a midnight screening for this.

Vaughn did something I never thought possible with a Fox produced X-Men film. He managed to make an X-Men movie that didnt stuff one overexposed character down our throats. And given the popularity of Magneto, as well as Vaughn's admitted preference, we couldve easily gotten "Magneto and his Amazing Friends". To his credit, that didnt happen here. In fact, as others are saying, Mcavoy's Xavier is the glue of this film. So much that the ending leaves you sad for him.

Fassbender is the most badass X-Man we've seen onscreen. He was dark, tortured, and charming, and his relationship with Charles was the best part about the movie. His early scenes really ARE like a James Bond film.

Banshee, Beast, and Havok were all entertaining supporting characters who you rooted for, especially Banshee. Beast was cool, but at the same time, I couldnt help thinking that karma bit him in the ass. Darwin got little screentime, though, and Angel was alright for the small amount of time she was onscreen.

Villain wise, Sebastian Shaw was great. Bacon made a character who's sadism was buried beneath charm, and almost a likability. Jones as Emma Frost was pretty good, as was Azazel. Riptide was just there, really.

I like Rose Bryne as Moira, mostly cause I just like Rose Byrne. Platt as the Man In Black didnt get enough scenes, IMO. This film is either the best x flick or tied with X2. Its what The LAst Stand wanted to be, but failed miserably to achieve.

[Carmine Falcone]

Absolutely loved this flick. For me, it's in the same league as Batman Begins. I'm probably going to watch it again in a few weeks, and I don't do that often. :D

[Legion]

Amazing movie!! I loved it! I felt like it was the X-Men movie I'd been waiting for all these years.

[ciscostudent561]

This movie was incredible. I cant say enough about it. I'll try to put it shortly. I've always had extremely high expectations for xmen movies. To me the storylines I felt were already good enough to carry a movie by itself. Toss in some decent acting and awesome action scenes and at the worst you have a b+ movie.

Likewise I felt x1-3 were all absolutely terrible. Watered down powers; the same weak storyline in the same 3 movies just killed it for me. I expected batman begins and I got batman and robin.

Regardless practice makes perfect, great job Sony and marvel. This one doesn't even need a sequel.

[JP]

Ok, just returned from the midnight show, which is my SECOND viewing tonight. That alone should tell you how I feel.

I absolutely adored this film. From the opening scene to the (groovy) end credits. I can't believe it took 8 years for another solid X-Men film. This is on par with X2. I say that because they're way too different for me to say which one is better. I give X2 an edge because there is just something about Singer's subtlety that I crave.

The acting was just superb. McAvoy was utterly fantastic. By the end of the film I swore I was watching a young Patrick Stewart. Fassbender is just a star. I can't wait to see Magneto completely unchained in the sequel which I really hope we get.

I have minor gripes that I could get into, but I just don't feel like it right now. Directorial choices I would have done differently. . .

Either way, I love this.
10/10

[ciscostudent561]

To each his own but how does anyone like x2? It was horrible compared to this.

[JP]

This is the First Class thread... :)

[J.Howlett]

JP,

Singer's subtlety and his grace in terms of how he balances action and the character bits is what caused me to rank X2 over First Class.

It's not that Vaughn doesn't have it in First Class...it's just isn't handled as elegant as Singer handled it in X2, even with the long winded third act of that film.

Still, I keep coming back to Lawrence's character arc in this film because ultimately, this earlier version of Mystique is what changes/reshapes Xavier philosophy by the end of the film and it's damn heartbreaking. His mishandling of Mystique's mutation and her feelings for him are what does him in, in the long run...

It's even more heartbreaking when you think of the type of character Mystique becomes. She's a cold blooded instrument of death for Magneto in the previous films and yet, that's not how she started at all.

Lawrence blew me the hell away...

[JP]

Couldn't agree more!


Also, I have to give a shout out to an unsung star of this film. HENRY JACKMAN. I mean, what. a. score. That Magneto theme was amazing.

[Ipodman]

Yeah the music was amazing... still ringing in my head when I went to sleep yesterday night O.O

Gotta go buy the score!

[Jake Cassidy]

****in' awesome.

[Oberon sexton]

Can you guys post your crowd reports i.e. how many people were in the audience? I'd like to see if we can get a read on this opening weekend at the box office.
At my viewing the audience was really attentive, gasping at the various Magneto scenes, laughing at the jokes and one liners, hell at one point my girlfriend was actually crying.

[A Necessary Evil]

Couldn't agree more!


Also, I have to give a shout out to an unsung star of this film. HENRY JACKMAN. I mean, what. a. score. That Magneto theme was amazing.

Yes. I am so excited to pickup the score.

25 more days damnit.:cmad:

[RKO]

In fact, as others are saying, Mcavoy's Xavier is the glue of this film. So much that the ending leaves you sad for him.



Specially one of his last lines in the film:

"I can't feel my legs."

:csad:

[J.Howlett]

JP,

I mean, if Xavier had taken the blinders off in a few instances, he would've understood certain things about other mutants and their feelings more. The scene in the kitchen after Raven embraces her true self was a stunner...from a character perspective. It's the scene where we see that sometimes, Charles just doesn't get it.

And it's not like Erik was manipulating Raven. Like Palpatine was towards Anakin in contrast to Yoda in Revenge of the Sith, Erik just tells Raven another side to it all...something she's never thought about because she's been chasing after Charles for so long.

Still, I kind of wish the film didn't feel the need to put the pieces in place to line up with X-Men. Frankly, it didn't need to do that. We need another film about the friendship between Erik and Charles. You could've easily left this film where the audience could feel that there was an uneasy shift to their relationship that could lead to the eventual split. It just didn't need to be this film. But, I think that's everyone hedging their bets if this film doesn't take off, from a box office standpoint.

[roach]

movie was awesome...I put it slightly behind X2 but better than Thor.

[roach]

JP,

I mean, if Xavier had taken the blinders off in a few instances, he would've understood certain things about other mutants and their feelings more. The scene in the kitchen after Raven embraces her true self was a stunner...from a character perspective. It's the scene where we see that sometimes, Charles just doesn't get it.

And it's not like Erik was manipulating Raven. Like Palpatine was towards Anakin in contrast to Yoda in Revenge of the Sith, Erik just tells Raven another side to it all...something she's never thought about because she's been chasing after Charles for so long.

Still, I kind of wish the film didn't feel the need to put the pieces in place to line up with X-Men. Frankly, it didn't need to do that. We need another film about the friendship between Erik and Charles. You could've easily left this film where the audience could feel that there was an uneasy shift to their relationship that could lead to the eventual split. It just didn't need to be this film. But, I think that's everyone hedging their bets if this film doesn't take off, from a box office standpoint.


agreed...this movie could have been the forging of the friendship
the sequel would be about the friendship straining and the third movie showcases the breaking of the friendship and the creation of Magneto

[J.Howlett]

roach,

I liked Thor a lot, even if it feels very Marvel Studio-ish. But, First Class is miles ahead of Thor, just on ambition and scale alone.

[JP]

JP,

I mean, if Xavier had taken the blinders off in a few instances, he would've understood certain things about other mutants and their feelings more. The scene in the kitchen after Raven embraces her true self was a stunner...from a character perspective. It's the scene where we see that sometimes, Charles just doesn't get it.

And it's not like Erik was manipulating Raven. Like Palpatine was towards Anakin in contrast to Yoda in Revenge of the Sith, Erik just tells Raven another side to it all...something she's never thought about because she's been chasing after Charles for so long.

Still, I kind of wish the film didn't feel the need to put the pieces in place to line up with X-Men. Frankly, it didn't need to do that. We need another film about the friendship between Erik and Charles. You could've easily left this film where the audience could feel that there was an uneasy shift to their relationship that could lead to the eventual split. It just didn't need to be this film. But, I think that's everyone hedging their bets if this film doesn't take off, from a box office standpoint.
Perhaps, but I think their friendship was well defined. Waiting for another movie brings you to the Star Ways prequels where they had one (simple) story to tell and foolishly tried to tell it in 3 films.

[roach]

roach,

I liked Thor a lot, even if it feels very Marvel Studio-ish. But, First Class is miles ahead of Thor, just on ambition and scale alone.

agreed

also there is no end credit scene

[Widowmaker]

Just got back from the midnight showing in NYC & I cannot say how much I enjoyed this movie. Complex, funny, and just...wow
The character development, The capturing of the sprit of each character, the dialouge, it's like they focused on what made the X-Men, the X-Men. It's about mutants, tolerance/intolerance, and us vs. them...That's the X-Men. The trailer for GL did really move me because I knew that First Class was the better movie, but it turned out to be really great.

*I have one tiny compliant, Emma needed more screentime JJ was great at capturing Emma's sprit, but it seemed like after she was captured, the Hellfire Club forgot she existed.

[Sweet Xstacy]

At my viewing the audience was really attentive, gasping at the various Magneto scenes, laughing at the jokes and one liners, hell at one point my girlfriend was actually crying.

Thanks!
How many people in the audience?

[J.Howlett]

roach,

I would even say that the creation of Magneto could happen at the end of the second film. Because, for argument's sake, what if this film doesn't get a sequel? If it doesn't, the way the ending is shaped leads you with one big damn question; what the hell have Magneto and Raven been doing for the last 38 years before the events of the first film?

[Hush]

One word, Amazing. Also best Superhero Cameo ever, right up there with Hawkeye.

[dru-zod2501]

Saw it at a midnight screening. Of Course this is far and away, the BEST X-Men film of all; the other films don't compare, don't even register by comparison. Hell, for me, I'll say this is one of the best comic book movies to date!!

Stellar performances by everyone involved, though Fassbender's Erik was the star of the show IMO. My showing had the biggest pop during the Logan cameo, was it the same for others?

[J.Howlett]

JP,

Oh, their friendship is well defined. It's just that, the previous films gave you the impression that they were friends for YEARS. It was barely two weeks, according to this film's timeline....

...and that's my other big flaw of the film. Even at 2 hours, it's almost too fast. It doesn't really breathe, for me. X2 breathes for you to contemplate themes and character. This one doesn't really do that until the night before the blockade incident.

We needed more breathable moments, for my taste.

[RKO]

Saw it at a midnight screening. Of Course this is far and away, the BEST X-Men film of all; the other films don't compare, don't even register by comparison. Hell, for me, I'll say this is one of the best comic book movies to date!!

Stellar performances by everyone involved, though Fassbender's Erik was the star of the show IMO. My showing had the biggest pop during the Logan cameo, was it the same for others?

I'll go with one of the quotes from a reviewer and say this is the best Super hero film since TDK.

Surely one of the best ever.

[Widowmaker]

Can you guys post your crowd reports i.e. how many people were in the audience? I'd like to see if we can get a read on this opening weekend at the box office.
At the AMC at 42nd street IT. WAS. PACKED! but there was still open seats in the first two rows. A the audience was really energized for it.

[Nirvana]

Good God, did not expect this movie to rock as hard as it did. I loved it, :up:

10/10

[Blackman]

JP,

Oh, their friendship is well defined. It's just that, the previous films gave you the impression that they were friends for YEARS. It was barely two weeks, according to this film's timeline....

...and that's my other big flaw of the film. Even at 2 hours, it's almost too fast. It doesn't really breathe, for me. X2 breathes for you to contemplate themes and character. This one doesn't really do that until the night before the blockade incident.

We needed more breathable moments, for my taste.

Yes, I totally agree with that.

[chaseter]

Great movie!

The beginning feels a little cheesy with the switch over to Charles and Raven but the beginning with young Erik is exactly like X1. That right there tells you that this is in the same universe as X1 and X2. The effects are just a tad dodgy in the beginning scene with young Erik making that operating room go crazy.

However, after the beginning the movie gets going and in my opinion it's perfect apart from the Beast makeup. Yes I said it. After the introduction, the rest of the movie is pure perfection! Great cast, great action, great affects, great writing, great dialogue, great everything...except of course for Beast's makeup. It felt a little constricting and so his facial and mouth movements looked wooden.

Vaughn perfectly utilized the background characters like Riptide, Azazel, Banshee, Havok, etc. Some say Emma was underused but this movie isn't about her. I also loved January Jones' portrayal of her. She was sexy yet subdued because after all, this is the 60s. She isn't a speak up and do what she wants character because she was under Shaw's finger so it worked. I also loved Lawrence's Mystique. My only complaint with her is that she did not have a single fight scene so I hope in the sequel with her naked we see some of her moves.

The cameos were great! This is the best X-Men movie to date.

9.5/10

Would have been a 10/10 in my opinion if Vaughn had a couple more months to fix a little bit of the cgi and make Beast's makeup better.

[Sweet Xstacy]

At the AMC at 42nd street IT. WAS. PACKED! but there was still open seats in the first two rows. A the audience was really energized for it.

Great thanks!

[chaseter]

Yes the movie flew by and at 2 hours that means that Vaughn is an amazing director...which he is. It felt like one hour! Seriously amazing how well paced this movie was.

[Oberon sexton]

Thanks!
How many people in the audience?
It was pretty packed, when we first got there there was like 10 people, but as the trailers played the theater filled up, so quite a few.

[chaseter]

This movie had the worst trailers ever in front of it! I was getting worried with Spy Kids, that dumb Kevin James movie, and some other crap that this movie was going to be childish.

Will be seeing this again tomorrow!

[roach]

roach,

I would even say that the creation of Magneto could happen at the end of the second film. Because, for argument's sake, what if this film doesn't get a sequel? If it doesn't, the way the ending is shaped leads you with one big damn question; what the hell have Magneto and Raven been doing for the last 38 years before the events of the first film?

building the mutant-maker machine...getting old

[JP]

I had Captain America, Green Lantern, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Rise of the Apes, and Penguins.

[A Necessary Evil]

Yes the movie flew by and at 2 hours that means that Vaughn is an amazing director...which he is. It felt like one hour! Seriously amazing how well paced this movie was.

I know right? At the end of the war sequence I checked my clock, thinking "seriously....its supposed to be 2h20...wait...It's...2 a.m?":awesome:

[J.Howlett]

roach,

With Fassbender's portrayal of Magneto, no way that cat was chillin' for 38 years on the sidelines. At the end of this film, Magneto wants to reek havoc.

By the way, January Jones was awesome as the 60's femme fatale. She's essentially playing the role that Mystique becomes in the original films. But, she's cool as hell.

[UltimateJustin]

I have nothing negative to say. I'm surprised a prequel can be this competent.

[Marginal Man]

I went in to this excited by the positive reviews and enjoyable character clips but I wasn't impressed by this movie at all. From the beginning I knew something was wrong when young Erik delivered a Darth Vader Revenge of the Sith style "NEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIN!" and the young Charles lets a mutant stray cat in like the whole thing was no big deal. From there we got like 20 location jumps for the first half of the movie instead of real character development. Havok was unmemorable aside from his power struggles, Darwin and Angel II had some surprisingly good acting talent wasted on D-list characters no one cares about, and the actress that played Mystique annoyed the hell out of me. All of the villains were pathetic and reminded me of Wolverine Origins at best and Austin Powers at worst. Azazel and Riptide are not even likable throwaway characters in the comics but Sebastian Shaw and Emma Frost overall seemed too different from their comic book counterparts. I hated the way the code-names were created although I think it may have just been my biased against anything said by Mystique. Now that isn't to say this movie was all bad. I truly enjoyed Professor X and Magneto. Sure they had some clunky dialogue here and there but they said so much more with their eyes and facial expressions. The scene where Charles is crippled actually did hit me emotionally and it did seem truly tragic. Moira, Beast, Banshee, and the MIB all did a great job with the little they were given and I also enjoyed every government agent actor. I feel like overall this left me with the same feeling X3 and Wolverine did...cheated.

[chaseter]

Yup...no character development from Charles or Erik at all in the first half of the movie:dry:

How was Shaw or Frost pathetic?

[roach]

well I heard that Vaughn wants to open the sequel up with Magneto killing Kennedy...which is why the bullet has a weird trajectory...because he took credit for the Cuba crisis being over

[Crockett]

It had an amazing pace, Lee Smith is the man. :up:

[jmc]

Some more thoughts on the film a day after seeing it, the main issues I'm having is with Mystique. It seems like an odd criticism but given the character that appears in the later stories Jennifer Lawrence brings a level of depth and emotion that is too good. Maybe I was just surprised by the level of her involvement, for 3 movies the character was a cardboard cutout pretty much there to look hot and do some action. But here she's a grounded, well rounded character who just wants to be accepted for who she is, she is strong yet vulnerable, she's such an engaging character that you end up caring for her, and it bugs me! It shouldn't, but it does. I just can't look at this endearing girl and see the same character present in X1, X2 and X3, I can for Charles and for Eric, but not Mystique, it's like day and night. It's so strange loving a performance and a character yet having it bug the crap out of you. Kudos to Jennifer Lawrence, that girl has a big future.

[dru-zod2501]

Nah, Charlie is doing it all by himself)
now, let's be clear. Xavier was the one who used Cerebro; Hank was the one who built it. But you're right, no Magneto involvement

[chaseter]

Some more thoughts on the film a day after seeing it, the main issues I'm having is with Mystique. It seems like an odd criticism but given the character that appears in the later stories Jennifer Lawrence brings a level of depth and emotion that is too good. Maybe I was just surprised by the level of her involvement, for 3 movies the character was a cardboard cutout pretty much there to look hot and do some action. But here she's a grounded, well rounded character who just wants to be accepted for who she is, she is strong yet vulnerable, she's such an engaging character that you end up caring for her, and it bugs me! It shouldn't, but it does. I just can't look at this endearing girl and see the same character present in X1, X2 and X3, I can for Charles and for Eric, but not Mystique, it's like day and night. It's so strange loving a performance and a character yet having it bug the crap out of you. Kudos to Jennifer Lawrence, that girl has a big future.
That sounds more like a complaint against X1-3 and not this movie. We still have future movies to see if they tell how Mystique became cold blooded to match her appearance.

[J.Howlett]

jmc,

Some more thoughts on the film a day after seeing it, the main issues I'm having is with Mystique. It seems like an odd criticism but given the character that appears in the later stories Jennifer Lawrence brings a level of depth and emotion that is too good. Maybe I was just surprised by the level of her involvement, for 3 movies the character was a cardboard cutout pretty much there to look hot and do some action. But here she's a grounded, well rounded character who just wants to be accepted for who she is, she is strong yet vulnerable, she's such an engaging character that you end up caring for her, and it bugs me! It shouldn't, but it does. I just can't look at this endearing girl and see the same character present in X1, X2 and X3, I can for Charles and for Eric, but not Mystique, it's like day and night. It's so strange loving a performance and a character yet having it bug the crap out of you. Kudos to Jennifer Lawrence, that girl has a big future.

See, I feel exactly the way you do except I know want to know what the hell warped her into that instrument of death that stands at Magneto's side in the trilogy.

Like, I have got to see that story. Hell, she still loves Charles dearly at the end of this...and contrast that to her sabotaging Cerebro in X-Men!

I mean, Magneto did a number on her on future films we haven't seen yet....Christ! I mean, it's sad as hell when you think about her in the trilogy now, after seeing this film.

And yes, Jennifer Lawrence is the real deal.

[Oberon sexton]

I thought it was weird too,especially since she seems more callus in the other films, yet I found a subtle way to rationalize her attack against Xaiver in X-1, in that film Charles was left in a coma from her sabotage, yet coincidently awoke after the liberty island encounter. My personal belief that she just meant to keep him out of it while Erik did his thing.

[PWN3R]

It had an amazing pace, Lee Smith is the man. :up:

AMEN.

The training montage was so well executed. I was literally grinning and nudging my friend like a dumb-ass.

[jmc]

That sounds more like a complaint against X1-3 and not this movie. We still have future movies to see if they tell how Mystique became cold blooded to match her appearance.

But even then, it still not going to feel like the same character, it's just way too big of a leap coz there's redeemable qualities to the character I witnessed, especially considering she basically grew up with Charles. There are none in the follow up stories, she is cold and sterile.

[J.Howlett]

And even more interesting is the fact that Xavier and Mystique are never seen together in the original trilogy...at all.

And even cooler, even though I hate the film with a passion, Mystique's final scene in the Last Stand where she changes to human form and Magneto says "She was beautiful once" completely has more weight to it now....(still not going to make me like that film).

[dru-zod2501]

This movie had the worst trailers ever in front of it! I was getting worried with Spy Kids, that dumb Kevin James movie, and some other crap that this movie was going to be childish.

Will be seeing this again tomorrow!
funny we had different trailers in mine.

Mr Popper's Penguins
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Rise of the Planet of the Apes

[J.Howlett]

jmc,

Still, there's a 38 year gap between First Class and X-Men. We have no idea what warped her...but it's intriguing as hell to find out.

[PWN3R]

Mystique's arc and her relationship with Xavier added so much to this franchise. Fassbender withstanding, that was my favorite part.

[jmc]

See, I feel exactly the way you do except I know want to know what the hell warped her into that instrument of death that stands at Magneto's side in the trilogy.

Like, I have got to see that story. Hell, she still loves Charles dearly at the end of this...and contrast that to her sabotaging Cerebro in X-Men!

I mean, Magneto did a number on her on future films we haven't seen yet....Christ! I mean, it's sad as hell when you think about her in the trilogy now, after seeing this film.

And yes, Jennifer Lawrence is the real deal.

That's what I'm talking about, something extraordinarily terrible must be planned for her, and it will be sad, deeply sad. She's just wants to be herself, in many ways she's the heart and soul of the film.

[The Morningstar]

But even then, it still not going to feel like the same character, it's just way too big of a leap coz there's redeemable qualities to the character I witnessed, especially considering she basically grew up with Charles. There are none in the follow up stories, she is cold and sterile.

I dunno, I thought Mystique had some decent character moments in the original films. Especially in X-2 with her little talk with Nightcrawler. Sometimes a single line of dialogue is a great piece of characterisation.

[chaseter]

But even then, it still not going to feel like the same character, it's just way too big of a leap coz there's redeemable qualities to the character I witnessed, especially considering she basically grew up with Charles. There are none in the follow up stories, she is cold and sterile.

So? You're befuddled that they gave a character that had no character development in X1-3 actual character development? They didn't give Rebecca tons of dialogue because she isn't a good actress. She was there as someone mentioned for boobs and action.

She didn't try to kill Charles in X1. She just wanted him incapacitated. Same for Magneto. They could have killed him 20 times over. It's obvious that Mystique is Magneto's right hand woman just like Emma was Shaw's right hand woman in this. The man that she follows held all the power and told them what to do. Plus as we can also see, Mystique and Erik were obviously lovers. Families in real life can grow apart from their loved ones when they marry someone controlling and manipulative. Lastly, Mystique has had it hard her entire life. The more she grows to hate humans, the more her outlook on life because colder and Charles represents humanity.

[bullets]

I'd love to see a First Class Part too. I really enjoyed this cast. Also a lot of solid action. This is up there with the best of them. They did a better job with the team aspect. Also thought Beast's arc was awesome. That was a cool transformation scene.

8/10

[dru-zod2501]

Some more thoughts on the film a day after seeing it, the main issues I'm having is with Mystique. It seems like an odd criticism but given the character that appears in the later stories Jennifer Lawrence brings a level of depth and emotion that is too good. Maybe I was just surprised by the level of her involvement, for 3 movies the character was a cardboard cutout pretty much there to look hot and do some action. But here she's a grounded, well rounded character who just wants to be accepted for who she is, she is strong yet vulnerable, she's such an engaging character that you end up caring for her, and it bugs me! It shouldn't, but it does. I just can't look at this endearing girl and see the same character present in X1, X2 and X3, I can for Charles and for Eric, but not Mystique, it's like day and night. It's so strange loving a performance and a character yet having it bug the crap out of you. Kudos to Jennifer Lawrence, that girl has a big future.

That sounds more like a complaint against X1-3 and not this movie. We still have future movies to see if they tell how Mystique became cold blooded to match her appearance.

Is it too much to imagine for now that this a happy reboot? and that this well-crafted relationship can be explored without worrisome continuity and other crap reminding us of the past?

[J.Howlett]

Morningstar,

That line from X2 directly links back to how she thinks at the end of this film. And jmc, yeah, it's going to be sad to see what exactly happened to her because of how this film plays Mystique against Charles and Erik.

If we get a sequel, I see that as a major source of drama. You gotta feel like Mystique will go back and forth between the two in the next installment just because of how much time she spent with Charles.

God, I can't get Jennifer Lawrence's performance out of my mind. It's just a stunner.

[jmc]

I dunno, I thought Mystique had some decent character moments in the original films. Especially in X-2 with her little talk with Nightcrawler. Sometimes a single line of dialogue is a great piece of characterisation.

I think that's a bit of a stretch, I read somewhere that piece of dialog was thrown in as a nod to the comics more than anything else. It kinda makes me wonder, and in some ways hope, that if this turns into a series that Mystique is the backbone of it, coz suddenly she's become a tragic character.

[jmc]

So? You're befuddled that they gave a character that had no character development in X1-3 actual character development? They didn't give Rebecca tons of dialogue because she isn't a good actress. She was there as someone mentioned for boobs and action.

She didn't try to kill Charles in X1. She just wanted him incapacitated. Same for Magneto. They could have killed him 20 times over. It's obvious that Mystique is Magneto's right hand woman just like Emma was Shaw's right hand woman in this. The man that she follows held all the power and told them what to do. Plus as we can also see, Mystique and Erik were obviously lovers. Families in real life can grow apart from their loved ones when they marry someone controlling and manipulative. Lastly, Mystique has had it hard her entire life. The more she grows to hate humans, the more her outlook on life because colder and Charles represents humanity.

In many ways yes I am befuddled because I wasn't expecting it, it was a pleasant surprise but one that left me trying to work out how this take on the character can possible link with the take that was already done. This version of Mystique is infinitely better than what came before, but at the moment it's like night and day. It's probably more a criticism on the previous films for leaving the character as a cardboard cutout.

[J.Howlett]

jmc,

I can see the dilemma you're struggling with but I think the key is time. There's just so much time between this film and X-Men that anything could've changed her.

We see one vague moment in the scene between her and Charles in the kitchen after she's embraced herself. It's subtle, but it's there.

[chaseter]

She spends more time with Erik than she does Charles...I don't see how it is shocking how she would change after 40 years.

[D.P.]

I just got home from seeing it.

I would like to say that X-Men 1-3 no longer exist to me.

This movie was damn good and nailed everything that the X-Men SHOULD have been IMO.

You all should thank Nolan & The Dark Knight for giving birth to this new age of comic films. Look for hero movies to have a more serious (not necessarily "dark") tone from now on.

[bullets]

Also you got to think after several years of fighting on opposite sides she's lost sight of their friendship.

[chaseter]

Don't forget to throw out Wolverine too DP!

[J.Howlett]

Well, unfortunately, I can't throw out X-Men and X2. There's just too many connections to those films with this film. The Last Stand and Origins Wolverine? No problem doing so.

But, this does feel very Batman Begins...which kind of disappoints me because with that film, Nolan made a point that those other films don't exist in this canon.

With First Class, it feels like the team can't make up their minds as to whether to start over and connect it to canon. It's a half and half. That's a slight flaw for me.

[jmc]

jmc,

I can see the dilemma you're struggling with but I think the key is time. There's just so much time between this film and X-Men that anything could've changed her.

We see one vague moment in the scene between her and Charles in the kitchen after she's embraced herself. It's subtle, but it's there.

Maybe if her relationship with Charles wasn't present or was downplayed it would be be easier to swallow, but I just don't buy it at the moment, they clearly care for each other. The only thing I can think of is that what ever makes her become the way she is in the future stories Charles has to be the cause of it, there has to be some moment where he stabs her in the back that turns her into this cold, sterile killer. Anything short of that and it won't merge, she has to hate him.

[D.P.]

Sure, you can't ignore them because of continuity, but this is what X-Men films should have been from the start. In terms of tone, writing, and storytelling.

It's unfortunate that this film was pretty much confined to the continuity set by the Singer and Ratner films, but it really took lemons and made them into lemonade.

I really have no gripes with the movie at all, and if I tried to find any I would really just be nitpicking the most minor of things.

Fox did something right for once...feels weird.

[chaseter]

Maybe if her relationship with Charles wasn't present or was downplayed it would be be easier to swallow, but I just don't buy it at the moment, they clearly care for each other. The only thing I can think of is that what ever makes her become the way she is in the future stories Charles has to be the cause of it, there has to be some moment where he stabs her in the back that turns her into this cold, sterile killer. Anything short of that and it won't merge, she has to hate him.

She doesn't hate Charles. Where are you getting this:huh:

[J.Howlett]

DP,

Still, you have to look at the time when Singer made X-Men and X2. Technology has rapidly evolved for filmmakers to where they can do more than ever before.

On X-Men, Singer has handcuffed by a studio that didn't believe in the film and cut his budget by 25 million and upped his release date by one year at the last might. It's a miracle that film even worked because if it didn't, the genre as it is today wouldn't be here.

With X2, I think, he made a genuine, compelling X-Men film where everyone got a moment to shine, even if it was slightly heavy on the Wolverine front.

[jmc]

She doesn't hate Charles. Where are you getting this:huh:

I never said she did, what I'm saying is she needs to hate him in order to become the character she does in the future stories. What they've established in FC is that these two characters have a connection, that connection needs to be irrevocably destroyed, at the moment it's not.

[craigdbfan]

Totally with JMC and J. Howlett on the Mystique point although that doesn't detract from Rebecca's performance in X-Men and X2 for me. In fact it made it even more tragic.

I couldn't help but empathize with her. She goes through so much in this and J.L just does her justice through and through.

[Legion]

They really buffed up Shaw in this movie. I was a little disappointed Magneto didn't best him one on one.

[jeff2hogan]

Wait, was that..

Rebecca Romijn

during the bed scene?

[RKO]

Wait, was that..

Rebecca Romijn

during the bed scene?

I believe it was, yes. My jaw dropped when I saw that part, I was confused for a second lol.

[D.P.]

DP,

Still, you have to look at the time when Singer made X-Men and X2. Technically has rapidly evolved for filmmakers to where they can do more than ever before.

On X-Men, Singer has handcuffed by a studio that didn't believe in the film and cut his budget by 25 million and upped his release date by one year at the last might. It's a miracle that film even worked because if it didn't, the genre as it is today wouldn't be here.

With X2, I think, he made a genuine, compelling X-Men film where everyone got a moment to shine, even if it was slightly heavy on the Wolverine front.

Very true. They wouldn't even give Singer the budget for Sentinels or a Danger Room. He did a lot for the genre and I respect him, even though I felt the X-Men series could have been handled better. Times have changed, and it took for the right circumstances to come about for us to reach this point we are at now. This is really a renaissance for comic films.

I feel that if Chris Nolan wasn't given the freedom he was by WB to do what he did with Batman, we wouldn't have gotten First Class. It's definitely been an evolution.

I'm so happy with what I just saw. I remember reading comics in the 90's at a time when there weren't any comic movies. They simply didn't exist, or were terrible straight to TV efforts. I would use my imagination to try and conjure up images of what a REAL live action Spider-Man or Wolverine would look like. It's here now. It has been for awhile, but it's really here in a way that it was meant to be.

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Wait, was that..

Rebecca Romijn

during the bed scene?

^ Yes

My beef with the Mystique / Xavier relationship is that the movie made it feel like Xavier and Mystique were the long time friends, not Xavier and Magneto.

Xavier grows up with Mystique, and she's there by his side through his entire early life.

Xavier randomly encounters Magneto as he's attacking a sub...

The relationship between Xavier and Magneto was totally downplayed in favor of Xavier and Mystique.

[jmc]

Yeah the Charles and Eric friendship kinda grew and disintegrated way too quickly, I would have liked to have seen that span a few films. You could basically start X1 where this film finished.

[J.Howlett]

DP,

I totally agree with you and why I'm slightly sadden that Vaughn hedged his bets with the film. It should've been a complete reboot, but it ties itself to the already established canon in too many places.

If I'm Fox, Vaughn, Singer, and Donner, I don't make a sequel(s) to the Last Stand. I make sequels to First Class and be done with it. By making an X4, you'd be handicapping the First Class series.

[J.Howlett]

jmc,

This is why I think the final moments of the last act where a mistake. Again, it should not have placed everyone in their respective X-Men positions. We could've easily used another film that examines further the Charles and Erik relationship, before it broke.

We get a hell of a lot in this film, but the break was too fast.

[J.Howlett]

And honestly, from a continuity perspective, it only really got loose with Magneto's/Shaw's telepath helmet.

I can forgive the "When I was 17, I met a young man named Erik Lensherr" part. It wasn't that big a deal.

Hank's X2 cameo is a blink and you'll miss it moment so that's not a continuity problem for me.

Honestly, to line up with X-Men and X2, there were almost none.

[D.P.]

DP,

I totally agree with you and why I'm slightly sadden that Vaughn hedged his bets with the film. It should've been a complete reboot, but it ties itself to the already established canon in too many places.

If I'm Fox, Vaughn, Singer, and Donner, I don't make a sequel(s) to the Last Stand. I make sequels to First Class and be done with it. By making an X4, you'd be handicapping the First Class series.

Agreed.

I'm aware of all the changes you guys are taking issue with, but for some reason, I'm not bothered at all. I'm really just content with it. That could just be a personal preference for me though.

[craigdbfan]

Ok, just returned from the midnight show, which is my SECOND viewing tonight. That alone should tell you how I feel.

I absolutely adored this film. From the opening scene to the (groovy) end credits. I can't believe it took 8 years for another solid X-Men film. This is on par with X2. I say that because they're way too different for me to say which one is better. I give X2 an edge because there is just something about Singer's subtlety that I crave.

The acting was just superb. McAvoy was utterly fantastic. By the end of the film I swore I was watching a young Patrick Stewart. Fassbender is just a star. I can't wait to see Magneto completely unchained in the sequel which I really hope we get.

I have minor gripes that I could get into, but I just don't feel like it right now. Directorial choices I would have done differently. . .

Either way, I love this.
10/10

:up: :up:

[chamber-music]

I forgot that Xavier stated in X1 that he met Erik when he was 17. This doesn't match XMFC, given Xavier was no younger than 10 in 1944 - probably twelve or so - and the film takes place in 1962, so he was between 28 and 30 years old. This might not matter to some, but anyone hoping for strict continuity might be disappointed.
Which is why I see this as a loose prequel
As long as it's a good movie, who really gives a ****? I agree with Vaughn's mentality here. These ain't the comics, they're movies based on the comics. These "continuity sticklers" need to accept that.
I agree I don't think Vaughn should feel he strictly has to follow every piece of continuity from films 11 years old by other directors
for those who have seen it how bad ass is Azazel i have heard several reviews who praise him

i think for a sequel they can do so many interesting things with his fight scenes
Azazel was cool his the most physical member of the hellfire club
Yeah the Charles and Eric friendship kinda grew and disintegrated way too quickly, I would have liked to have seen that span a few films. You could basically start X1 where this film finished.
Well McAvoy said Magneto switches from good to evil alot in the comics and the Brotherhood and X-Men have worked together in X2 and in the comics before against a common enemy so it doesn't mean for certain Xavier and Magneto won't find themselves on the same side again if they face a common threat.

[CrypticOne]

Just got back. Movie was awesome!

Loved when Magneto killed Shaw. Straight ill.

Only thing I didn't like were the constant location changes.

8/10

[D.P.]

Just got back. Movie was awesome!

Loved when Magneto killed Shaw. Straight ill.

Only thing I didn't like were the constant location changes.

8/10

Also...

The symbolism of him floating Shaw out crucified like Jesus.

[Legion]

I think you guys are downplaying Xavier and Erik's relationship a bit. Erik was the first mutant Xavier encountered besides Raven and he was someone that he saw as his equal.

They also fought in a war together, this would bring anyone close together. Let's not forget that Xavier was in Erik's mind!! They shared some pretty intimate moments. They became very close, it doesn't matter if it was just a couple of weeks.

If anything I find it harder to believe that two men were best friends for decades and then decided to wage war on each other in their golden years.

[jmc]

jmc,

This is why I think the final moments of the last act where a mistake. Again, it should not have placed everyone in their respective X-Men positions. We could've easily used another film that examines further the Charles and Erik relationship, before it broke.

We get a hell of a lot in this film, but the break was too fast.

Absolutely, you kind of wonder if they may have played their hand too early. I think the best way you could have ended the film was to have had Eric come to some sort of realization about what he was doing and listen to Charles. You would have at least planted the seed that the friendship will ultimately cease, as it stands it's kinda over already.

[Ponyboy]

No spoilers here... I just saw it with my wife... I was inclined to give it a 7.5/8 out of 10. It's pretty good, just a few minor things that bothered me after the fact... but an enjoyable and fun watch. Worth going to see at the theatre!

[RKO]

Also...

The symbolism of him floating Shaw out crucified like Jesus.

Not only that but:

A Jew killing a Nazi with a coin (money) straight through his head...makes you think.

[BMM]

I haven’t wrapped my head around First Class enough to post all of my thoughts about the film but, off the top of my head, the thing that sticks out the most is the camaraderie. I love it. It’s something we haven’t seen to this extent in any of the previous X-Men films, but they pull it off in First Class and it only gets better as the film progresses. As has been said countless times, McAvoy and Fassbender are great. It’s a treat to watch them in their individual scenes and they’re even better when they’re onscreen together.

I also really like the back-and-forth banter, and teamwork, between the younger mutants. Banshee, Beast, Havok, etc. are pure fun. I really like Hoult as Beast. When he was first cast, I thought, “He looks like he could make a good Cyclops.” It’s clear, however, based on his performance, why they chose him to play Hank. Banshee and Havok have minor roles, but they’re good. Jones is probably my favorite of the recruits.

In fact, I like almost all of the performances. Lawrence, who doesn’t have the attitude of Romijn’s Mystique, and shouldn’t as this is a younger and more inexperienced Raven, really sells her character’s longing and need for acceptance. Also, despite being an unconventional choice, Bacon nails the ruthlessness of Sebastian Shaw. The weakest link, in my opinion, is Jones as Emma Frost. Sometimes, I like her. Other times, I don’t. Although she exudes the appropriate amount of *****iness every now and then, I think she’s just too damn mousy to play the Emma we’ve come to know in the books.

Other than that, my biggest complaint about the movie is with regard to the visuals. Sometimes, I wasn’t a fan of the look of the film, particularly the effects work. Some of them really took me out of the movie, and sometimes the movie looks a bit cheap. There’s questionable wirework toward the end of the film, and some effects, such as Mystique’s transformation, Emma Frost’s diamond form, and Cerebro, could have looked better. As dated as the effects look now, I still haven’t seen a Mystique transformation as natural and seamless as those featured in X-Men or X2, and First Class Cerebro doesn’t hold a candle to its predecessors either. Also, contrary to trailer appearances, I’m not completely sold on Beast’s look. It isn’t as lazy looking as it is in The Last Stand, but it could have been better (I really like how he looks in the international trailer, but it appears they changed the final product).

Other than that, First Class is well done and much, much better than Fox’s previous attempt at an X-Men origin movie.

[D.P.]

Not only that but:

A Jew killing a Nazi with a coin (money) straight through his head...makes you think.

I'm not touching that one lol.

[J.Howlett]

jmc,

Absolutely, you kind of wonder if they may have played their hand too early. I think the best way you could have ended the film was to have had Eric come to some sort of realization about what he was doing and listen to Charles. You would have at least planted the seed that the friendship will ultimately cease, as it stands it's kinda over already.

They did. Honestly, because of the last two X-Men flicks, I can understand why they'd just get everyone in their positions. We don't know if the audience will take another X-Men film at this point because of the bad taste of the last two.

So, it's better to play it safe and make sure everyone is where they need to be.

But, they should've been confident enough in their film to leave a few things for sequels because this film is really good. I don't think it's Dark Knight good but I think it might have cracked my top 5 of the genre, after only one viewing.

But, given that Vaughn only had 10 months to make this thing, he did a hell of a job.

Damn, now I'm thinking about my list of the best of the genre and I'm having a real hard time placing it. I know it's in the top 10 but another viewing will let me know if it's top 5.

[chamber-music]

Not only that but:

A Jew killing a Nazi with a coin (money) straight through his head...makes you think.
It was cool but Shaw wasn't really a Nazi ideology wise. He seemed to work with whoever would suit his own goals of mutant dominance be it the Nazis, Russians or Americans.

[RKO]

It was cool but Shaw wasn't really a Nazi ideology wise. He seemed to work with whoever would suit his own goals of mutant dominance be it the Nazis, Russians or Americans.


Right. Still definitely a very striking image.

[psyonic]

now, let's be clear. Xavier was the one who used Cerebro; Hank was the one who built it. But you're right, no Magneto involvement

In future films, perhaps they reconcile for a while or even defeat enemies together. Maybe Magneto helps him build the one seen in X1 and X2 since it's a big, metallic round room. You saw how he reconfigured the panels in X2, he knows how cerebro works.

[Heffer Wolf]

Loved every single second of this movie. As a fan of the X-Men, its good to see a good X-Men movie again. Even the training montage, which I usualy absolutly HATE, was really well done. I'm impressed.

The characters were awesome. People say most don't really get a chance to shine, but I thought they were all perfect for what they were. I thought Emma Frost was good. Not quite enough of a *****, but good still. She seemed sexy and smart, and thats a good start. Banshee, besides sometimes sounding like he might be deaf, was cool. Shaw was scary as hell. Riptide, even though he never said a word, just had this confidence about him like 'yeah, I can make ****ing tornados. what." And Azazel just cemented my belief that being able to teleport would be the coolest power to have. Hell, even Havok, Beast and Angel were cool. I am glad they killed Darwin, because honestly, for some reason, I wasn't really feeling him on the team. And obviously Magneto and Professor X were tits.

anyways, loved it.

[chamber-music]

Wasn't Cerebro destroyed by Riptide anyway nothing to say Charles and Erik don't build a future version. Xavier said Magneto helped build it not create it if I remember correctly

[chamber-music]

Loved every single second of this movie. As a fan of the X-Men, its good to see a good X-Men movie again. Even the training montage, which I usualy absolutly HATE, was really well done. I'm impressed.

The characters were awesome. People say most don't really get a chance to shine, but I thought they were all perfect for what they were. I thought Emma Frost was good. Not quite enough of a *****, but good still. She seemed sexy and smart, and thats a good start. Banshee, besides sometimes sounding like he might be deaf, was cool. Shaw was scary as hell. Riptide, even though he never said a word, just had this confidence about him like 'yeah, I can make ****ing tornados. what." And Azazel just cemented my belief that being able to teleport would be the coolest power to have. Hell, even Havok, Beast and Angel were cool. I am glad they killed Darwin, because honestly, for some reason, I wasn't really feeling him on the team. And obviously Magneto and Professor X were tits.

anyways, loved it.

Racist Joking :funny:

yeah I didn't think he would survive due to how little was shown of him in the trailers

[craigdbfan]

Darwin had a beautiful death scene though. No doubt about that.

[tedw]

Which is why I see this as a loose prequel

I agree I don't think Vaughn should feel he strictly has to follow every piece of continuity from films 11 years old by other directors

Why does it matter how much time has passed since X1 was filmed if you're setting this in the same universe and it's meant to be the same characters? You can't have it be both a reboot and a prequel; I think they should've chosen one and stuck just a little more carefully to it.

I think you guys are downplaying Xavier and Erik's relationship a bit. Erik was the first mutant Xavier encountered besides Raven and he was someone that he saw as his equal.

They also fought in a war together, this would bring anyone close together. Let's not forget that Xavier was in Erik's mind!! They shared some pretty intimate moments. They became very close, it doesn't matter if it was just a couple of weeks.

If anything I find it harder to believe that two men were best friends for decades and then decided to wage war on each other in their golden years.

Yes, Erik was the second mutant Xavier met, but he'd known Raven for 18 years, and Erik for less than a month. So the key relationship with an "old friend" for Xavier would be Mystique, surely? She fought alongside him in the same "war".

I don't think the two men had to be friends for decades before a split, but surely they could have met at Oxford, both students, and been friends for a little while before they get swept up in the events of the movie. It doesn't seem like Erik is hanging around Xavier for any reason other than they're both after Shaw; I wish their friendship had grown regardless of being mutants, not because of it.

It feels a bit like the filmmakers remembered that Xavier and Magneto are meant to be great friends based on the comics and films, but forgot to show us that friendship blooming.

[Iron Man]

This was a fantastic film, brilliantly put together and with awesome action scenes, excellent characterisation, and a great cast. I'll admit that it took me a while to reconcile the oddness of the characters that were assembled, but once I'd gotten over that, I really enjoyed it. The cameo from Wolverine was inspired and hilarious. The standout has to be Michael Fassbender as Magneto, though. He fit the role perfectly.

There was only one thing that I wasn't really keen on, and that was the sibling relationship that was set up between Xavier and Mystique. That didn't really work for me at all.

[Heffer Wolf]

Racist Joking :funny:

yeah I didn't think he would survive due to how little was shown of him in the trailers

But...but... I loved Angel.:woot:

No I don't know what it was about him. Maybe it was his shape, as weird as that sounds. He looked like maybe he had Carrot Top syndrome, where his arms are just super ripped, but the rest of him is scrawny as hell. Would you want to look at Carrot Top for 2 hours? Didn't think so...

[chamber-music]

Nothing to say Charles and Erik won't be allies or even on friendly terms in the future. Magneto switches back and forth all the time in the comics and they have worked together against common foes in X2 and multiple times in the comics.

I don't think its all out war between the X-Men and Brotherhood just yet. despite what happened you still got the feeling they didn't hate one another

[chamber-music]

But...but... I loved Angel.:woot:

No I don't know what it was about him. Maybe it was his shape, as weird as that sounds. He looked like maybe he had Carrot Top syndrome, where his arms are just super ripped, but the rest of him is scrawny as hell. Would you want to look at Carrot Top for 2 hours? Didn't think so...
Darwin and Angel were characters I was least favourite of from the comics so didn't mind if they died in the movies.

[Heffer Wolf]

Darwin and Angel were characters I was least favourite of from the comics so didn't mind if they died in the movies.

I was never really familar with Darwin, but I read the New X-Men run with Angel, and I always thought she was just a creepy bizarre character. Her and beak were just... weird. But in this, I don't know, maybe it was just her cruising around spitting acid fire balls at people, and taking down Banshee. I just thought it was kind of cool. And it helps that Zoe Kravitz is smoking hot.

[SuperSoldier985]

Out of all of the issues I had with this movie, the one that I REALLY was upset about, was the no lingering "X" in the FOX logo. I mean, WTF. I know this is supposed to be the beginning, but seriously, it's still an X-MEN movie. I don't know why it wasn't there...or maybe my eye sight is going bad.

[RKO]

Out of all of the issues I had with this movie, the one that I REALLY was upset about, was the no lingering "X" in the FOX logo. I mean, WTF. I know this is supposed to be the beginning, but seriously, it's still an X-MEN movie. I don't know why it wasn't there...or maybe my eye sight is going bad.

http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/auto/r/350x0/8/d/8de09-NotSureIfSerious.jpg

[SuperSoldier985]

http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/auto/r/350x0/8/d/8de09-NotSureIfSerious.jpg
:o:o:o

[truth]

Darwin had a beautiful death scene though. No doubt about that.

No.

[craigdbfan]

No.

Care to elaborate?

I really liked the character and as brief as his appearance was his death was handled gracefully despite fueling the "black guy dies first" trope.

[RKO]

Care to elaborate?

I really liked the character and as brief as his appearance was his death was handled gracefully despite fueling the "black guy dies first" trope.

Also the memorable scene:

"Or would you rather be enslaved"

*Shot of the only black man in the room*


I hadn't laughed so hard in a while.

[LostSon88]

I actually didn't pick that up. My audience was in hysterics.

Probably because when that happened, a black woman behind us said very loudly,

"OH HELL NO..."

:lmao:

[craigdbfan]

Also the memorable scene:

"Or would you rather be enslaved"

*Shot of the only black man in the room*


I hadn't laughed so hard in a while.

I actually didn't pick that up. My audience was in hysterics.

Probably because when that happened, a black woman behind us said very loudly,

"OH HELL NO..."

:lmao:

Yeah, typical. :funny:

My coworkers and I caught that too and were balling.

[LostSon88]

I thought it was weird too,especially since she seems more callus in the other films, yet I found a subtle way to rationalize her attack against Xaiver in X-1, in that film Charles was left in a coma from her sabotage, yet coincidently awoke after the liberty island encounter. My personal belief that she just meant to keep him out of it while Erik did his thing.

I always took that as it being part of the Brotherhoods plan in X1. That Erik (and Mystique) never meant for Xavier to be permanently incapacitated. It was their intentions to put Xavier in a temporary coma, while they carried out their plan.

There's no way he would ever try to pemanently harm Charles

...well, on purpose at least. :cwink:

[craigdbfan]

He did leave him to die in X2 when the dam was breaking.

"Goodbye my old friend".

[LostSon88]

That one is also debatable though isn't it? Correct me if i'm wrong but,

At the time Magneto and Mystique left Xavier in the Dark Cerebro, were they aware the dam had been ruptured and that the whole facility was going to come down? From my memory I don't believe they did.

I again took that as them simply leaving him to wake up in a "brave new world".

...only they failed both times, lol.

[kedrell]

Ok. just got back from seeing the movie. Hmm, my initial reaction if I had to 'on the spot' just give it a rating based on my first impression....I'd give it a 7.5/10 with enough worthiness to it that in the above poll I'd round up instead of down so I voted an 8 in the poll. Basically about even with what I gave Thor. Both have their unique strengths and weaknesses which the other doesn't have. But I reckon them about even over-all. I'd say it's a toss up at this point whether I like it better than X2(IMO, the X-men franchise's current high water mark). It's definitely better than X1 to me and fuhgedaboudit when comparing it to X3 or XO:W. Blows those 2 outta the water like a torpedo.

But I'm really gonna have to chew on it a bit more(more viewings) before I can begin to coalesce my true opinion of it into any sort of a review. Best superhero movie ever? Not really, IMO. I thought Vaughn's Kick-Ass was definitely better and there are several better SH films beyond that. But it may just be the best X-men film and thus by definition, the best FOX has ever made of it's Marvel films.

So I'll watch it probably at least 3-4 more times this weekend and then see what I think about it.

[craigdbfan]

That one is also debatable though isn't it? Correct me if i'm wrong but,

At the time Magneto and Mystique left Xavier in the Dark Cerebro, were they aware the dam had been ruptured and that the whole facility was going to come down? From my memory I don't believe they did.

I again took that as them simply leaving him to wake up in a "brave new world".

...only they failed both times, lol.

They definitely were aware.

[LostSon88]

Okay...I suppose I stand corrected then.

[insane polaris]

I love how Shaw is so similar to older Magneto.

Its like as much as Eric hates Shaw, he will inevitably become the same as his creator.

[pyromaniac]

I get the feeling alot ended up on the cutting room floor for pacing reasons. James McAvoy did an interview a couple days ago on the BBC were he said Charles and Erik had a fight with a 7 foot tall guy that was cut from the movie. Mathew Vaughn also said he cut the romance subplot between Moria and Charles.

The scen in the trailers of Havok using his powers outside the mansion also wasn't in the movie

Ohh. What 7 foot tall guy? When would that take place during the film?

I don't mind the exclusion of the romance subplot... But it almost felt forced when Charles and Moira kissed at the end. Funnily enough, if they kept the subplot in, it would have made Moira's mindwipe the more meaningful for it.

Ah, I had forgotten about Havok's powers outside the mansion. It's a good thing that I wasn't looking for it while watching the film. But I wonder whom he was directing at. Does anybody know?

And for those who saw the behind the scenes featurette, can anybody also remind me what Azazel and Riptide said to Angel in the war room? It's probably only time Riptide had lines.

With reference to that psychic battle that was supposed to have taken place between Charles and Emma, I'm assuming that would've been whenEmma was caught. It would've been nice if Charles had mused that he 'found another telepath - an equal', but considering how it happened, after interference during the first submarine scene, she seemed weak compared to him. Some reports indicated that she was stronger than him at the time.

[Gianakin_]

The movie was absolutely fantastic. The humor, the action, the music, the acting, the characters, the plot, the cameos and nods!

The FX were not the best possible but I wish I gave a damn, seeing that the story was excellent. The franchise is back in full force. See Fox? That's what happens when you let your directors fulfill their vision! Bring on X-Men Second Class (or whatever). I'm even willing to ignore the few gigantic plot holes with regard to the movie universe in general.

One thing I didn't like wasthat the friendship between X and Erik lasted for only 2 weeks. I mean, I get that X read Erik's mind and it was as if they knew each other in years, but I still wanted more.

I really wouldn't have minded if they stayed friends and they became enemies in the sequel. Same goes for Mystique. She didn't have to go now, but it's fine. A good way to "rectify" that would be to have something of a "cold war" between them in Second Class, not a full confrontation between the X-Men and the Brotherhood. They can leave that for Third Class.
Other than that, the movie was as solid as Emma's diamond skin. Bravo to all involved.

[craigdbfan]

The more I keep thinking about it the more I fall in love with it. I'm watching this several times. I want to see it in a theater as many times as I possibly can.

[Gianakin_]

The more I keep thinking about it the more I fall in love with it. I'm watching this several times. I want to see it in a theater as many times as I possibly can.

Ich auch.

[kedrell]

The more I think about it, the more I am becoming certain that I doubt subsequent viewings are likely to push my rating any higher. I doubt it'll drop either. But I still want to see it a few more times anyway.

[craigdbfan]

Ich auch.

Reizend. :cool:

[Gianakin_]

I see that others have touched upon the rushed Charles-Erik relationship. Good.

Oh, and the fact they had the HUMONGOUS balls to show Magneto's full costume with the colours and helmet design and everything.... wow! Props.

[craigdbfan]

Oh, and the fact they had the HUMONGOUS balls to show Magneto's full costume with the colours and helmet design and everything.... wow! Props.

Early on I said that I saw the purple trimming on the helmet in the first trailer.

Good to see that confirmed but I wasn't expecting the front head piece to be exactly like that of the comics. It oozed reverential awesomeness.

[Gianakin_]

I think it was the decade that really justifies anything aesthetically. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Mag's costume from X1-3 was beyond awesome, but damn, was it faithful in FC!

[kedrell]

More of my first/random thoughts(instead of merely ranking it in the genre)

I'll spoiler tag it all just to be safe but I don't think there are really any significant spoilers in it:


Fassbender & McAvoy pretty much embody their characters, as does Jennifer Lawrence and maybe Nicholas Hoult. That's about all the stellar casting there is here. The rest is mostly just adequet but don't really embody who they're playing. I will say though that I still don't know why Xavier needs a British accent. He was born and grew up in New York state. He's an American. But that's a minor quibble.

For the most part, the SFX and action are done well. There was really never any 'Whoa!' moment in the film for me but I also don't remember any :doh: :whatever: moments either. Nothing ever really struck me on par with the level of the Nightcrawler attack opening scene or Magneto's escape in X2, though. At the same time, there's no BS love triangle here like there was in X2(continued from X1..you know what I'm talking about -Logan/Jean/Scott). There was a quasi-love triangle here I guess but it was much better(Charles/Raven/Erik) and centered around more than just physical attraction.

[J.Howlett]

kedrell,

There was a "Whoa" moment. The death of Shaw. That was "whoa".

[craigdbfan]

There were a ton of "Whoa" moments for me personally but hey I loved this movie. :p

[Gianakin_]

Yeah, there were many "whoa" moments for me as well. Especially during the final 3rd of the film.

[Spikey]

This is nitpicking but... when Erik goes to Argentina (Villa Gesell) and they showed the place, the entire audience laughed....

Why? Because I'm from Argentina and that place WASN'T Villa Gesell... in fact, the place is entirely different (actually is almost like a giant beach)

[kedrell]

I see that others have touched upon the rushed Charles-Erik relationship. Good.

Oh, and the fact they had the HUMONGOUS balls to show Magneto's full costume with the colours and helmet design and everything.... wow! Props.


Having the balls to do it is one thing, and I can commend them for it. But it's still much better when you can both have the balls AND THE BRAINS to work it in cleverly so that it fits the film like a glove. IMO, it didn't quite make that level here.

[kedrell]

kedrell,

There was a "Whoa" moment. The death of Shaw. That was "whoa".


Hmm, that was good and I appreciated their willingness to go there. But it sure didn't go to that level for me though. A 'whoa!' moment for me needs more, IMO. It's got to be something that I don't see coming and probably wouldn't have had the imagination enough to think of it in the first place. In X2, Nightcrawler's attack & Maggy's escape were at that level.

[mightiest_mortal]

I really wasn't convinced by Shaws death.
Sure we can say Shaw has to use his powers actively... to explain why it even hurt him when the bullets fired at him earlier couldnt damage him... but still, going at that slow speed would have just pushed him over... its not like Prof X can actually freeze people in place completely like that, he just pauses their mind in place..

Really think its a shame Shaw died, having a character that can carry out plans of that magnitude was great.

And to be fair, much as I love Magnetos costume in the comics... he did look quite stupid at the end there. ade no sense to the character to suddenly start dressing up like that either. I would have given him the X1/X2 uniform in black, with the FirstClass helmet in its original silver.

[kedrell]

I do think the potentially biggest 'whoa!' moment of the film actually got axed(Xavier & Frost dueling on the astral plane or something like that).

[Alientraveller]

For me the whoa moment was Magneto finally lifting the sub. And whenever Banshee flew, it was just great seeing the actors' face and not a CG double.

[Oberon sexton]

the biggest "whoa" moment for me was Charles getting hit by that bullet, i knew he was going to be crippled but damn that caught me off guard, and Erik's reaction, really great acting.

[kedrell]

For me the whoa moment was Magneto finally lifting the sub. And whenever Banshee flew, it was just great seeing the actors' face and not a CG double.

Unfortunately, that was given away in the trailer.

[Spider-Fan]

Going to see this tonight at 7 :up:

I'll give a full review when I get home tonight. I'm hoping it lives up to the great reviews it is getting everywhere.

[kedrell]

the biggest "whoa" moment for me was Charles getting hit by that bullet, i knew he was going to be crippled but damn that caught me off guard, and Erik's reaction, really great acting.

I would say that was probably the single most powerful scene in the movie. Especially when Magneto's trying to kill Moira and saying "You did this!" and then Charles comes around and says to him "No, you did this."But I wouldn't call it a 'whoa!' moment. Those are action based, for me.

[J.Howlett]

kedrell,

For me, the most powerful moment was Raven and Charles' last moments. It hit me incredibly deep because Raven still loves Charles' but Erik gives Raven what she needs at that moment...and Charles understood that.

That goodbye just killed me....

[Ipodman]

The most intense moment for me was when the coin went through Seb's head.

[Oberon sexton]

I would say that was probably the single most powerful scene in the movie. Especially when Magneto's trying to kill Moira and saying "You did this!" and then Charles comes around and says to him "No, you did this."But I wouldn't call it a 'whoa!' moment. Those are action based, for me.

If we're talking action scenes, mine would probably be Beast and Azazel fight scene, that majorly impressed me :woot:

[Ipodman]

Best action scene for me was Magneto invasion... that was awesome! :D

[kedrell]

kedrell,

For me, the most powerful moment was Raven and Charles' last moments. It hit me incredibly deep because Raven still loves Charles' but Erik gives Raven what she needs at that moment...and Charles understood that.

That goodbye just killed me....

That's a good one as well. I still prefer the moment between Charles & Erik prior to that, when Erik tells him they want the same thing and Charles tells him that they really don't.

[Spider-ManHero12]

I'll be seeing this in about an hour and a half. I'll give my full review later!

[J.Howlett]

kedrell,

That was a good one too and kind of surprising because I just didn't think Erik would have that reaction to Xavier's injury when it happened. I didn't know how he would act but I wasn't expecting compassion in that moment from Erik.

[kedrell]

kedrell,

That was a good one too and kind of surprising because I just didn't think Erik would have that reaction to Xavier's injury when it happened. I didn't know how he would act but I wasn't expecting compassion in that moment from Erik.


Why not? Charles is the closest thing he's ever had to a friend, so far as we know. It really ties back into that scene at the dish where Charles gets him to remember a nice thought from his past that he'd forgotten.

[Carmine Falcone]

About THE cameo:

I totally wasn't expecting to see Hugh jackman in there. Also his line was amazing. ''Go **** yourself''. What was the rating for this movie in the States? Did they get an R for that line alone? or was it PG13?

[Oberon sexton]

what I liked from that crippling scene was that he REALLY wanted to kill those humans, but after seeing Charles hurt ,it was an afterthought. very sad especially the whole" I need you to lead with me, you're my brother.."

[J.Howlett]

kedrell,

True. But, considering where Erik was at that moment, I figured he'd just be as cold blooded as he had become in that moment.

Honestly, that whole sequence is great and it's capped off by two compassionate moments from Raven and Erik.

Frankly, just thinking about it makes me sad....

[kedrell]

It's one of the best parts of the movie, sho'-nuff.

[mightiest_mortal]

I think my biggest Woah moment was when...
The military just decided they might as well blow up the mutants while they had the chance, even though they'd just saved them
This scene made me think that Magneto probably is right afterall in some respects.

I like that Professor X's vision is still very underdeveloped in this film, especially with him not realising how upsetting to Mystique his views that she should always strive to appear "normal" are.

[kedrell]

After seeing this and thinking that they did this they way the Anakin & Obi-Wan relationship should have been handled in the SW prequels, I do get the sense that this could have been even better if they hadn't rushed it. This would have been even more powerful maybe at the end of the next movie(giving even more time for Charles & Erik's relationship to grow and deepen). Oh well.

[SuperBatman]

What more can be said by me that hasn't already been said about this movie.

This Movie was Awesome and I really hope it does well so they could make a sequel to continue the story.

[kedrell]

I definitely want a sequel.

[DarthDaveBanner]

Its a good sign that a movie is brilliant when its character moments are equally as "woah" as the action moments.

[chamber-music]

I love how Shaw is so similar to older Magneto.

Its like as much as Eric hates Shaw, he will inevitably become the same as his creator.
Yeah I don't think some people picked up on that they are basically the same. They have different ways of doing things but they both have the same aims.
Ohh. What 7 foot tall guy? When would that take place during the film?

I don't mind the exclusion of the romance subplot... But it almost felt forced when Charles and Moira kissed at the end. Funnily enough, if they kept the subplot in, it would have made Moira's mindwipe the more meaningful for it.

Ah, I had forgotten about Havok's powers outside the mansion. It's a good thing that I wasn't looking for it while watching the film. But I wonder whom he was directing at. Does anybody know?

And for those who saw the behind the scenes featurette, can anybody also remind me what Azazel and Riptide said to Angel in the war room? It's probably only time Riptide had lines.

With reference to that psychic battle that was supposed to have taken place between Charles and Emma, I'm assuming that would've been whenEmma was caught. It would've been nice if Charles had mused that he 'found another telepath - an equal', but considering how it happened, after interference during the first submarine scene, she seemed weak compared to him. Some reports indicated that she was stronger than him at the time.
I think Charles and Eriks battle with the 7 foot guy may of taken place when they were either recruiting mutants or when they were going after Emma Frost at the Russian Mansion

The kiss mindwipe reminded me of the old Sumperman movie mindwipe kiss between clark and lois

[Alientraveller]

About THE cameo:

I totally wasn't expecting to see Hugh jackman in there. Also his line was amazing. ''Go **** yourself''. What was the rating for this movie in the States? Did they get an R for that line alone? or was it PG13?

A single F-word is allowed in a PG-13 or 12A.

[Carmine Falcone]

A sequel to this could be fantastic. I want some more of the X-Men in 60's goodness. Especially after reading Vaugh's awesome idea for Magneto controlling the 'magic bullet.' :wow:

[Troy_Parker]

Green Lantern, Cap America, Transformers 3 were the trailers I got.

[Troy_Parker]

About THE cameo:

I totally wasn't expecting to see Hugh jackman in there. Also his line was amazing. ''Go **** yourself''. What was the rating for this movie in the States? Did they get an R for that line alone? or was it PG13?

I think in a PG13 you can have one use of that word.

[tedw]

Yeah, you can say "F" once, and only as long as it's a non-sexual connotation.

[chamber-music]

Another scene they cut out the movie was Angel asking Xavier what he can do and he makes a man sitting next to her look like a crossdresser

[pyromaniac]

Oh my god. Really? At the strip club? Because they can't be referring to Magneto... Oh dear, what a laugh.

This has Vaugn's 'weirdness' all over it.

[pyromaniac]

Yeah I don't think some people picked up on that they are basically the same. They have different ways of doing things but they both have the same aims.

I think Charles and Eriks battle with the 7 foot guy may of taken place when they were either recruiting mutants or when they were going after Emma Frost at the Russian Mansion

The kiss mindwipe reminded me of the old Sumperman movie mindwipe kiss between clark and lois

Well, here, considering Xavier, it was less arbitrary. :)

[Blackman]

So which thread is the REAL rate and review. This or the other one.Someone said the other one was just for critics

I thought this was a good movie, but I did actually have my fair share of problems.

1) Trimming the fat. Oliver Platt's character died too early, Darwin was just pointless (and a victim of "the black guy dies first" rule :ninja:), Emma Frost just sat on the sidelines like Scott in X2, Angel also just felt pointless; her turn was kinda lame to me
2) Shaw's plot was pretty lame. The mutants will get stronger because of nuclear war? Also who wants to rule a destroyed world
3) The "class" wasn't fleshed out. Mystique and Beast had good arcs; but Havoc and Banshee were underdeveloped. Havoc is in jail, seems like he's reckless or a hothead. Didn't get that from his character (I also thought he was the worst actor, not bad, just the worst). What was Banshee's back story? He seemed to have a stable life before Eric and Xavier came, why did he join them? And as I said earlier, Angel and Darwin were just pointless. Darwin didn't even get to kick ass. Black mutants got the shaft hard:o. Also that whole scene where Shaw and them stormed the CIA they couldve at least tried to fight back earlier. Most of them have offensive powers and they didnt try anything until late. This was the biggest flaw in the movie.
4) I felt that some of the scenes were edited weird. Like the scene before the Cuba scene where Mystique talked Xavier in the kitchen. It ended abruptly. I cant think of any others, but that was the last one I remember.

And then minor gripes:
-I thought Beast, while had great look, prevented Hoult from showing emotions
-I still miss that scene in a X-Men film where the whole team works to take on 1 enemy. Team work still hasn't been showed that well to me. It wouldve been cool to see The X-Men taking on a suped up Shaw
-I wouldve liked to see Mystique kick some ass
-I wouldve liked to see some stuff of Xavier coming to terms with his paralyzation. BTW the way they did him getting crippled was great. I wasn't expecting it in this first film or for it to happen the way it did
-WOuldve liked to see more of a love story between Moira and Xavier



All that being said, this was a good movie. The action was cool, the Bond style was good, the acting was awesome(McAvoy and Fassbender were so great), the whole Magneto journey through the first hour, the characters were nice. In the end it did feel a bit uneven at times, but it is still a true return to form for the X-Men films.
EDIT: I keep jumping back and forth between a 7.5 and a 8

[Stringer]

I thought it was great. I'm not going to rank it against the best of the other movies in the genre yet because I need to see how it holds up over multiple viewings, but it was easily better than any of the previous vastly overrated x-men films.

McAvoy and Fassbender are just pure greatness, if it weren't for them I don't think it would've been nearly as good. I'll get into my problems with it later, even though they're just nitpicks, but this is definitely up there with the best right now. 8/10

[pyromaniac]

So which thread is the REAL rate and review. This or the other one.Someone said the other one was just for critics

I thought this was a good movie, but I did actually have my fair share of problems.

1) Trimming the fat. Oliver Platt's character died too early, Darwin was just pointless (and a victim of "the black guy dies first" rule :ninja:), Emma Frost just sat on the sidelines like Scott in X2, Angel also just felt pointless; her turn was kinda lame to me
2) Shaw's plot was pretty lame. The mutants will get stronger because of nuclear war? Also who wants to rule a destroyed world
3) The "class" wasn't fleshed out. Mystique and Beast had good arcs; but Havoc and Banshee were underdeveloped. Havoc is in jail, seems like he's reckless or a hothead. Didn't get that from his character (I also thought he was the worst actor, not bad, just the worst). What was Banshee's back story? He seemed to have a stable life before Eric and Xavier came, why did he join them? And as I said earlier, Angel and Darwin were just pointless. Darwin didn't even get to kick ass. Black mutants got the shaft hard:o. Also that whole scene where Shaw and them stormed the CIA they couldve at least tried to fight back earlier. Most of them have offensive powers and they didnt try anything until late. This was the biggest flaw in the movie.
4) I felt that some of the scenes were edited weird. Like the scene before the Cuba scene where Mystique talked Xavier in the kitchen. It ended abruptly. I cant think of any others, but that was the last one I remember.

And then minor gripes:
-I thought Beast, while had great look, prevented Hoult from showing emotions
-I still miss that scene in a X-Men film where the whole team works to take on 1 enemy. Team work still hasn't been showed that well to me. It wouldve been cool to see The X-Men taking on a suped up Shaw
-I wouldve liked to see Mystique kick some ass
-I wouldve liked to see some stuff of Xavier coming to terms with his paralyzation. BTW the way they did him getting crippled was great. I wasn't expecting it in this first film or for it to happen the way it did
-WOuldve liked to see more of a love story between Moira and Xavier



All that being said, this was a good movie. The action was cool, the Bond style was good, the acting was awesome(McAvoy and Fassbender were so great), the whole Magneto journey through the first hour, the characters were nice. In the end it did feel a bit uneven at times, but it is still a true return to form for the X-Men films.
EDIT: I keep jumping back and forth between a 7.5 and a 8

The kids couldn't fight back during the CIA raid because the agents didn't let them. Remember? They did fight back AFTER. The only reason they hesitated was because it was their first time being in this 'war'; they were numb, shocked, surprised, etc. You felt - and they felt that they were up very, very experienced and very ruthless baddies who could kill you on a dime. They had no prior fighting instinct whatsoever. Though it was a nice touch that Darwin put up his defenses out of everyone else.

And of course they got into trouble for messing up their quarters the night before. The fact they didn't fight back sooner is the reason they had to undergo training later on.

Emma, funnily enough, seemed to contribute to the plot a bit more than Scott did. You really feel his absence much more there because he is supposed to the leader. Emma Frost at least wasn't made to be more than what she was supposed to be, at least in this film.

The romance subplot between Moira and Charles was apparently cut down, for economical reasons. As well as the scene where Charles is coming to terms with his paralysis (which, by the way, is the correct term haha.) But I felt you already get his despair when he feels, 'I can't feel my legs!' So that's good enough for me.

Other gripes, I more or less agree.

[Blackman]

The kids couldn't fight back during the CIA raid because the agents didn't let them. Remember? They did fight back AFTER. The only reason they hesitated was because it was their first time being in this 'war'; they were numb, shocked, surprised, etc. You felt - and they felt that they were up very, very experienced and very ruthless baddies who could kill you on a dime. They had no prior fighting instinct whatsoever. Though it was a nice touch that Darwin put up his defenses out of everyone else.

And of course they got into trouble for messing up their quarters the night before. The fact they didn't fight back sooner is the reason they had to undergo training later on.

Emma, funnily enough, seemed to contribute to the plot a bit more than Scott did. You really feel his absence much more there because he is supposed to the leader. Emma Frost at least wasn't made to be more than what she was supposed to be, at least in this film.

The romance subplot between Moira and Charles was apparently cut down, for economical reasons. As well as the scene where Charles is coming to terms with his paralysis (which, by the way, is the correct term haha.) But I felt you already get his despair when he feels, 'I can't feel my legs!' So that's good enough for me.

Other gripes, I more or less agree.

But I wouldve expected/wanted Havoc to at least do something earlier. As I said him being in jail seems to beg to the fact that he doesn't make the right choices, he's reckless, or he's a loose cannon. I know it was their first experience, but I wish at least one of them fought earlier.

Idk. Yeah I guess she was more important. But I dont really like when they take a character and just shove him/her to the side. I thought Shaw would break her out because she couldve escaped at any time. But she just stood there

Okay. It did feel like a decent amount was cut from this. Do you know what other stuff was cut. I remember Xavier and Frost had a mind battle but it was scrapped because of INception

[tedw]

Out of curiosity, I'd be interested to know others' thoughts on how the kids played the time period in which the film was set. I don't think the actors quite captured, or portrayed, the kids of that era as much as I expected; they seemed a bit modern to me.

What did anyone else find?

[Blackman]

EH they acted like normal kids to me. They really didnt get that much time to "act like kids". I wasnt alive in the time period so I can't comment on that. I guess Havoc calling Beast a "bozo" isnt something a tough kid would say today

[pyromaniac]

But I wouldve expected/wanted Havoc to at least do something earlier. As I said him being in jail seems to beg to the fact that he doesn't make the right choices, he's reckless, or he's a loose cannon. I know it was their first experience, but I wish at least one of them fought earlier.

Idk. Yeah I guess she was more important. But I dont really like when they take a character and just shove him/her to the side. I thought Shaw would break her out because she couldve escaped at any time. But she just stood there

Okay. It did feel like a decent amount was cut from this. Do you know what other stuff was cut. I remember Xavier and Frost had a mind battle but it was scrapped because of INception

I know what you mean. Havok or anybody else might have not done anything sooner, but Havok was the only one who stepped up to the plate to try to take Shaw out. That's probably a nice if embryonic combination of recklessness and strategy.

Emma, yes I do agree. She could've tried to break out or at least spoke of it. She certainly wasn't feeling neglected by Shaw. Poor girl, after all that cosying up to the Bacon.

There were a few more scenes cut out. Maybe a new thread should be made for this, to compile all into place. Not that many, but some. There was a shot of Havok shooting out his beams outside the mansion from the trailer: that was cut. A scene of Charles and Erik fighting a 7 foot tall guy. It might have been at around the time they'd caught Emma. Riptide and Azazel 'initiating' Angel in the war room, while they are looking at the map. I think Angel was particularly interested in Cuba. Wasn't she reported to be of Cuban origin?

[chamber-music]

But I wouldve expected/wanted Havoc to at least do something earlier. As I said him being in jail seems to beg to the fact that he doesn't make the right choices, he's reckless, or he's a loose cannon. I know it was their first experience, but I wish at least one of them fought earlier.

Idk. Yeah I guess she was more important. But I dont really like when they take a character and just shove him/her to the side. I thought Shaw would break her out because she couldve escaped at any time. But she just stood there

Okay. It did feel like a decent amount was cut from this. Do you know what other stuff was cut. I remember Xavier and Frost had a mind battle but it was scrapped because of INception
Havoc could barely control his powers and I would say he was wreckless with how his and Darwins little plan went down.

Remember Darwin and Havok were already plotting to try and take out Shaw when he was leaving

I get the feeling some Emma Frost stuff ended up getting cut too. I think she fought Shaw would break her out eventually after he had made sure his nuclear war kicked off.

I think Emma stayed because she wanted to hear what the CIA were plotting

[kedrell]

So which thread is the REAL rate and review. This or the other one.Someone said the other one was just for critics

I thought this was a good movie, but I did actually have my fair share of problems.

1) Trimming the fat. Oliver Platt's character died too early, Darwin was just pointless (and a victim of "the black guy dies first" rule :ninja:), Emma Frost just sat on the sidelines like Scott in X2, Angel also just felt pointless; her turn was kinda lame to me
2) Shaw's plot was pretty lame. The mutants will get stronger because of nuclear war? Also who wants to rule a destroyed world
3) The "class" wasn't fleshed out. Mystique and Beast had good arcs; but Havoc and Banshee were underdeveloped. Havoc is in jail, seems like he's reckless or a hothead. Didn't get that from his character (I also thought he was the worst actor, not bad, just the worst). What was Banshee's back story? He seemed to have a stable life before Eric and Xavier came, why did he join them? And as I said earlier, Angel and Darwin were just pointless. Darwin didn't even get to kick ass. Black mutants got the shaft hard:o. Also that whole scene where Shaw and them stormed the CIA they couldve at least tried to fight back earlier. Most of them have offensive powers and they didnt try anything until late. This was the biggest flaw in the movie.
4) I felt that some of the scenes were edited weird. Like the scene before the Cuba scene where Mystique talked Xavier in the kitchen. It ended abruptly. I cant think of any others, but that was the last one I remember.

And then minor gripes:
-I thought Beast, while had great look, prevented Hoult from showing emotions
-I still miss that scene in a X-Men film where the whole team works to take on 1 enemy. Team work still hasn't been showed that well to me. It wouldve been cool to see The X-Men taking on a suped up Shaw
-I wouldve liked to see Mystique kick some ass
-I wouldve liked to see some stuff of Xavier coming to terms with his paralyzation. BTW the way they did him getting crippled was great. I wasn't expecting it in this first film or for it to happen the way it did
-WOuldve liked to see more of a love story between Moira and Xavier



All that being said, this was a good movie. The action was cool, the Bond style was good, the acting was awesome(McAvoy and Fassbender were so great), the whole Magneto journey through the first hour, the characters were nice. In the end it did feel a bit uneven at times, but it is still a true return to form for the X-Men films.
EDIT: I keep jumping back and forth between a 7.5 and a 8


Wow, you pretty much read my mind. Hey, I don't need to do a review now.:awesome:
I can just point here and say that's what I thought of it.

[pyromaniac]

Out of curiosity, I'd be interested to know others' thoughts on how the kids played the time period in which the film was set. I don't think the actors quite captured, or portrayed, the kids of that era as much as I expected; they seemed a bit modern to me.

What did anyone else find?

I'm 25. :p

Actually, come to think of it, considering all the mutant furore, it was probably expected that they'd feel a little ahead of their time. There is such a thing as that. It might have been nice to have a conservative character in contrast with the flamboyancy of his powers - then again, Mystique sort of filled that void. And anyway, the 60's were becoming more explicit with overt sexism and sexualisation as well as the persecution, so those pins of 'modernity' still carry over into today. So I don't find it an issue at all that the kids were acting a bit out of the time period. After all, mutation was coming to the fore and they were 'evolving' with their attitudes.

[pyromaniac]

Wow, you pretty much read my mind. Hey, I don't need to do a review now.:awesome:
I can just point here and say that's what I thought of it.

Get your own mind! :mad: And no, you can't say,'The Professor made me do it.'

[kedrell]

Get your own mind! :mad: And no, you can't say,'The Professor made me do it.'


Yeah, I'm just being lazy.:word:

[Blackman]

I know what you mean. Havok or anybody else might have not done anything sooner, but Havok was the only one who stepped up to the plate to try to take Shaw out. That's probably a nice if embryonic combination of recklessness and strategy.

Emma, yes I do agree. She could've tried to break out or at least spoke of it. She certainly wasn't feeling neglected by Shaw. Poor girl, after all that cosying up to the Bacon.

There were a few more scenes cut out. Maybe a new thread should be made for this, to compile all into place. Not that many, but some. There was a shot of Havok shooting out his beams outside the mansion from the trailer: that was cut. A scene of Charles and Erik fighting a 7 foot tall guy. It might have been at around the time they'd caught Emma. Riptide and Azazel 'initiating' Angel in the war room, while they are looking at the map. I think Angel was particularly interested in Cuba. Wasn't she reported to be of Cuban origin?
Agree to disagree on the Havoc point

Wow, you pretty much read my mind. Hey, I don't need to do a review now.:awesome:
I can just point here and say that's what I thought of it.

:up:

[Stringer]

I think Mystique falling for Magneto was kind of sudden. Sure he gave her some self confidence, but she hadn't really shown any physical attraction to him prior to her jumping into his bed nakey. And right before then she was trying bang Hank and before that she was trying to bang Xavier. Makes her seem kinda ****ty imo.

[pyromaniac]

i wrote a long and dazzling review for you. For you! :cmad:

Pull up your slacks, mate.

[kedrell]

Now that we have Kevin Bacon's Shaw added to the mix, I'd still say that Brian Cox's General Stryker is still the best villain this series ever had.

[pyromaniac]

I think Mystique falling for Magneto was kind of sudden. Sure he gave her some self confidence, but she hadn't really shown any physical attraction to him prior to her jumping into his bed nakey. And right before then she was trying bang Hank and before that she was trying to bang Xavier. Makes her seem kinda ****ty imo.

When was she eyeballing Xavier? They were like brother and sister.

By the way, Magneto made the first move. :p

But in the end, this physical attraction was really peripheral to the plot. So no complaints there. if anything, it was more that his worldviews, his precepts that she shouldn't have to 'change for anybody' were powerful enough to sway her over to his side. You would too, if a dastardly and handsome Bond-ish man called you 'Perfection.' :p

[kedrell]

i wrote a long and dazzling review for you. For you! :cmad:

Pull up your slacks, mate.

I will, I will. Just let me see it a few more times before I do so I can solidify all my thoughts on it. But I must say that I can't really refute any of the points that Blackman brought up. They were pretty solid to me.

[Blackman]

I think Mystique falling for Magneto was kind of sudden. Sure he gave her some self confidence, but she hadn't really shown any physical attraction to him prior to her jumping into his bed nakey. And right before then she was trying bang Hank and before that she was trying to bang Xavier. Makes her seem kinda ****ty imo.

I think she was an attention whore more than an actual sl**. But also yeah some more scenes with Mystique and Magneto wouldve been good.

I also have a question. Did anyone think the pacing was a little too fast after Xavier and Magneto met? Before that the pacing was perfect, but then I felt like so many things were not fully touched upon because they were moving the story quickly.

[Stringer]

I think she wanted to be more than a "sister" to Xavier, he just wasn't having any of that.

[Stringer]

I think she was an attention whore more than an actual sl**. But also yeah some more scenes with Mystique and Magneto wouldve been good.

I also have a question. Did anyone think the pacing was a little too fast after Xavier and Magneto met? Before that the pacing was perfect, but then I felt like so many things were not fully touched upon because they were moving the story quickly
I noticed that too but I chalked it up to me wanting more Xavier and Magneto scenes. There just didn't seem to be enough.

[kedrell]

Yeah, this movie did feel like they packed a whole helluva lot in and that they pretty much needed to go pretty quickly through it all in order to fit it all in. Kinda doesn't leave room for much breathing space so the audience can take it all in.

[pyromaniac]

I will, I will. Just let me see it a few more times before I do so I can solidify all my thoughts on it. But I must say that I can't really refute any of the points that Blackman brought up. They were pretty solid to me.

I was just ribbing you. You really don't have to, if you're buckling under pressure. :p

One point I have to make about teamwork that Blackman was bringing up. To be fair, there was little strategy for such, but more so the fact the baddies messed up their chances to regroup, and scatter them, so they pretty much improvised on the fly.

Circumstantially, there was no opportunity for them to showcase that. It's likely that in the sequel we will see some brain and brawn in unison.

[pyromaniac]

Yeah, this movie did feel like they packed a whole helluva lot in and that they pretty much needed to go pretty quickly through it all in order to fit it all in. Kinda doesn't leave room for much breathing space so the audience can take it all in.

I didn't have a problem with that. I could follow the story well and I breathed fine.

If anything, The Dark Knight by comparison had a LOT going on, but for some reason I was more analytical of the story points upon the second viewing than the first time. Because I was just caught up in the sheer narrative of it that I didn't stoop to think.

X-Men had less than that, so it wasn't too hard for me. Plus that's why you can always go back. A number of reviews do mention the need for replay value. And X-Men at least has that.

[chamber-music]

Any dude who said she was pretty she seemed into :funny:

I think she was just looking for someone to like her she seemed a little lonely remember how she tried to mess up Charles flirting with that girl with the different coloured eyes

[Blackman]

IMO when Shaw was absorbing the energy of the nuclear reactor, they couldve had Shaw come out and had X-Men vs Shaw himself.

Any dude who said she was pretty she seemed into :funny:

And that was the main thing, she didnt feel pretty because of her skin. But when Xavier and Beast said she was pretty basically in her mask, she realized that they dont find the "real" her pretty. Magneto found her true self beautiful and that's why he got with her in the end

[roach]

yeah...why didnt Emma break out?

[Tony Stark]

Stryker was in the movie? I totally missed that. Which one was he?

[Troy_Parker]

Eh, Stryker was in this? o.o

[Tony Stark]

And that was the main thing, she didnt feel pretty because of her skin. But when Xavier and Beast said she was pretty basically in her mask, she realized that they dont find the "real" her pretty. Magneto found her true self beautiful and that's why he got with her in the end

I get that, but what I didn't get is Mags was responsible for nearly killing and paralyzing her brother, and she just walks off? Also it felt a little empty they left on good terms because she tries to kill him in X1

[Snikt]

Stryker was in the movie? I totally missed that. Which one was he?

Yes, but it was Stryker's father

My review:

Saw it at the midnight show last night; I'd say a 4.5/5. The acting was solid, the action sequences were really cool.

I loved the "recruiting bit." I won't say anything else other than it was a fun scene.

Plenty of laughs too. I didn't expect that. And for anyone hesitant because Vaughn metioned the word TWILIGHT in an interview when talking about X-Men; no worries. There really doesn't seem to be anything in the film that resembles that.

Of course there is some romance, but that's to be expected.

Only complaint with the film Beast's appearance. I really didn't care for the make-up at all. It didn't ruin the movie for me, but it looked like Nicholas Hoult couldn't move any facial muscles under the make-up. I went in with an open mind when comparing it to Beast from X3. First Class Beast may have looked better in pictures and stills, but in the films, X3 Beast looks much more real and smooth

[kedrell]

I was wondering how Erik was able to still harm Emma when she was in her diamond form. I thought she'd be impervious to his power in that form, or at least impervious to him harming her.

[pyromaniac]

I get that, but what I didn't get is Mags was responsible for nearly killing and paralyzing her brother, and she just walks off? Also it felt a little empty they left on good terms because she tries to kill him in X1

He wasn't directly at fault...

[pyromaniac]

I was wondering how Erik was able to still harm Emma when she was in her diamond form. I thought she'd be impervious to his power in that form, or at least impervious to him harming her.

What do you mean? He used metal to wrap the golden bedposts around her, causing her diamond form to start cracking ever so slightly... :confused:

[kedrell]

What do you mean? He used metal to wrap the golden bedposts around her, causing her diamond form to start cracking ever so slightly... :confused:

Yeah, that part.
Shouldn't he be unable to do that?

[Oberon sexton]

Diamonds are breakable, it's just reeeeeeaaally hard to do so

[Stringer]

I wouldn't think a bedpost could crack diamond.

[pyromaniac]

But gold cuts diamond...

[Oberon sexton]

Beat me to it ^

[kedrell]

So her diamond form in this movie is basically pointless. I think they should've just kept her classic.

[kedrell]

But gold cuts diamond...

Since when? And he wasn't cutting her, he was crushing the diamonds.

[roach]

Yeah, that part.
Shouldn't he be unable to do that?

why..diamond's are the hardest substance known to man so far but it doesnt make it invulnerable.

[Oberon sexton]

Edit: everyone else seems to have it covered...

[chamber-music]

IMO when Shaw was absorbing the energy of the nuclear reactor, they couldve had Shaw come out and had X-Men vs Shaw himself.


Shaw was more focused on his plan of starting a nuke war. He probably though his cronies could handle them seeing as last time they were not so great against him

I don't think Shaw versus the X-Men single handed would of been that exciting to be honest. He would basically just absorb eveything they tossed at him and release it against them.

Plus Magneto wanted the final kill I don't think he would of let Banshee, Havok and Beast help him as he was out to straight murder Shaw

[kedrell]

What exactly was her classic? she turned to diamonds. diamonds arent indestructable...

He classic powers are just being a telepath. The diamond form stuff is relatively new.

[kedrell]

why..diamond's are the hardest substance known to man so far but it doesnt make it invulnerable.

That's fine, but do you think a squeeze from a soft metal(gold is a soft metal) bed frame is enough to crush diamonds? Remember, this ain't cutting her, he was crushing her.

I think it would have been a more workable solution that since she obviously changed into that form to render her invulnerable to Charles's psychic attacks as well as Erik's physical attacks, that Erik could have used the metal bed frame to immobilize her as he did but then do something like find some nearby water(a pool or some such thing to try to use the fact that she still needed to breathe as a means of having some leverage on her to get her to talk).

Eh, it's just an idea.

[roach]

That's fine, but do you think a squeeze from a soft metal(gold is a soft metal) bed frame is enough to crush diamonds? Remember, this ain't cutting her, he was crushing her.

I think it would have been a more workable solution that since she obviously changed into that form to render her invulnerable to Charles's psychic attacks as well as Erik's physical attacks, that Erik could have used the metal bed frame to immobilize her as he did but then do something like find some nearby water(a pool or some such thing to try to use the fact that she still needed to breathe as a means of having some leverage on her to get her to talk).

Eh, it's just an idea.

i think if someone had the ability to manipulate metal they could potentially crush diamonds with a soft metal substance by the amount of pressure applied